Day 6 of Classes

 It is almost mid-term, but I find that this is not the stress-point of the semester. Week 10 is when the semester becomes really difficult. That is the week when it feels like the semester will never end, when there are so many assignments and so little time, and still five weeks to go. This applies to students and professors both - the writing and the grading. It piles up and this is when the pile teeters and threatens to fall over, burying you in words.

The Simpsons: Season 3, Episode 4

This episode of The Simpsons comes to mind, with Principal Skinner in his garage, trapped under fallen stacks of newspapers. To keep his sanity intact (it is almost a week before anyone finds him) he bounces a basketball, counting the bounces, and then tries to beat his score.

While it is a digital stack of writing looming on the horizon - now both writing that I have to produce and writing that I have to grade - this potential exists. Historically, my two reactions to being overwhelmed by either sensory input or tasks which I have to complete were to lash out or become paralyzed. I've done some serious self-work to stop lashing out. Among other reasons, I did not want to lash out at my children, or at students. Paralysis is still out there, though, where my mind freezes and I cannot focus on anything.

So, what have I done to ensure that the Week 10 peak does not deprive me of oxygen? 

One way I am taking care of myself to make sure I do not spend all of Thanksgiving break ignoring my family and working intensely has been keeping on top of grading. This semester has been better than any other where that is concerned, perhaps because my workload is much heavier.

I am also making sure that I enjoy time with my husband and children. I remind myself to connect with them in a significant way every day. One of my high priorities is to make sure that doing this doctorate does not result in me disconnecting from my family.

Luckily - or not depending on how caught-up on work you are - once Week 10 passes it is like time speeds up and the end of the semester is there before you know it.